NFL Refs Leave Footballs at Hotel before Patriots, Chiefs Game

BOSTON (CBS) – State Police confirm they helped the NFL deliver footballs and pressure gauges to Gillette Stadium on Saturday after an official forgot them at their hotel.

Approximately two hours before the Patriots were set to host the Chiefs in the playoffs; State Police at Logan Airport were notified by the Hyatt Hotel that the equipment had been left behind.

Scott Zolak of 98.5 The Sports Hub first reported that the referees forgot the balls at the hotel Saturday night.

According to State Police spokesman David Procopio, a trooper on duty, along with the hotel employee that retrieved the equipment, drove the balls and gauges to Gillette Stadium and arrived about an hour before kickoff.

Procopio says the balls they delivered are referred to as K-balls, and are the official footballs provided by the league for kicking plays.

The Patriots went on to beat the Chiefs 27-20 to advance to the AFC Championship game against the Broncos in Denver.

The incident happened two days before the anniversary of the start of thedeflategate scandal. The NFL has been conducting random testing of the PSI of footballs throughout the season.